Question

What is the function of water in photosynthesis?

Answer 1

It doesn't necessarily have a function, but is a molecule that reacts with carbon dioxide to produce glucose.

Explanation:

Water is one of the reactants in photosynthesis, it provides the hydrogen needed to form glucose (a hydrocarbon).

`"carbon dioxide" + "water" + "energy" -> "glucose" + "oxygen"`
`6"CO"_2 + 6"H"_2"O" -> "C"_6"H"_12"O"_6 + 6"O"_2`

Water and carbon dioxide enter the leaf through the stomata (small holes on the underside of the leaf that are controlled by gaurd cells) by diffusion.

Answer 2

The water is split during the light reaction to form oxygen gas and hydrogen ions. The hydrogen ions are used by the chloroplast to produce ATP.

Explanation:

The hydrogen is also important because it can combine with carbon (from carbon dioxide) to produce glucose.

Here is a video which provides a quick summary of photosynthesis.

Video from: Noel Pauller

Hope this helps!